Black Lesbian and Gay Centre

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The Black Lesbian and Gay Centre (BLGC) was a community centre in London that ran from 1985 to 2000. [1] The centre was founded by members of the Gay Black Group in response to "the overwhelming whiteness of the 'mainstream' LGBTQ+ scene, racism from within and outside of the scene, and the difficulties of coming out to families, who generally perceived homosexuality as a 'white' issue." [1] It was first set up in Haringey with funding from the Greater London Council, and later moved to Peckham. There is a Rainbow Plaque commemorating the BLGC in Peckham. [2] [3]

Contents

Location

The Gay Black Group were a collective of Black lesbians and gay men, who organised under the banner of political Blackness. [4] In 1982 they approached the Greater London Council to set up the drop-in centre, with plans to provide advice, information, and a helpline. The GLC awarded funding to the project three years later in 1985. [5] At the time it was founded, it didn't have a permanent premises. [2] This changed in 1992 when the centre moved to Peckham and took up residence in a former railway arch. [2]

The centre closed its permanent space in 1995, [3] however the last published bulletin is dated winter 2000 and stated their address as Westminster Bridge Road. [6] [7]

Activities

A collection of historical magazines on display in October 2024 in the Feminist Library hall, at the Sojourner Truth centre in Peckham, South London. Issues of the 'Black Lesbian & Gay Centre Project' newsletter are visible. A display of magazines at the Feminist Library, London.jpg
A collection of historical magazines on display in October 2024 in the Feminist Library hall, at the Sojourner Truth centre in Peckham, South London. Issues of the 'Black Lesbian & Gay Centre Project' newsletter are visible.

The group worked to provide a range of services and supported a number of actions, including: advice, counselling, and a telephone helpline; [5] a library of relevant and specific material and a social space, even when they didn't have a permanent venue. [1]

The BLGC organised the Fifth International Lesbian and Gay People Conference, the first time it was held outside of North America. [5]

The magazine Blackout was published from 1986 for Black lesbians and gay men to share events and resources. [1] A newsletter for the "Black Lesbian & Gay Centre Project" was also printed. [8] [9]

The centre supported a boycott against the Black magazine The Voice about their treatment of out gay footballer Justin Fashanu. [5]

Legacy

In 2014 film maker Veronica McKenzie made a documentary about the Black Lesbian and Gay Centre titled 'Under Your Nose.' [10] The film was low budget and, reportedly, a labour of love, with McKenzie describing using her 'small savings' and having voluntary crew working for expenses. [11] The film covered the history of the centre and surrounding political history, interviewing original members such as Dorothea Smartt, Dennis Carney, or Femi Otitoju. [12]

McKenzie went on to found the Haringey Vanguard Archive in 2018. Held at the Bruce Castle museum in Tottenham, it prominently features the documents of the BLGC. [13] The archive features oral history accounts from BLGC members Dennis Carney, Amber Djemal, and Savi Hensman. [14]

On 18th February 2024, a Rainbow Plaque commemorating the centre was unveiled opposite 83 Bellenden Road in Peckham. The unveiling was held with a special screening of Under Your Nose at Peckhamplex Cinema with a Q&A with former members. The project was supported by Studio Voltaire, and the London LGBT Forums network. [15]

Collections related to the BLGC are held by the Bishopsgate Institute, London. [1] Material is also held at the Feminist Library, London. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Black Lesbian and Gay Centre". Bishopsgate Institute. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  2. 1 2 3 "Rainbow Plaque: Black Lesbian & Gay Centre - Studio Voltaire". studiovoltaire.org. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  3. 1 2 EDITOR (2024-02-20). "Peckham's Black Lesbian & Gay Centre marked with new Rainbow Plaque". diva-magazine.com. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  4. ↑ Baska, Maggie (2022-10-10). "Remembering a forgotten landmark in gay, Black, British history". PinkNews. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Murphy, Gillian (2016-10-31). "'Our own space' – the Black Lesbian and Gay Centre". LSE Blogs. Retrieved 2024-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ anonymous (2000). "Winter 2000". Black lesbian and gay centre newsletter.
  7. 1 2 Black Lesbian and Gay Centre (Project) Newsheet. London: Black Lesbian and Gay Centre Project. 1986.
  8. ↑ "Black Lesbian and Gay Centre Project". archives.lse.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  9. ↑ "Black Lesbian and Gay Centre Digital resources". staffblogs.le.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  10. ↑ "Under Your Nose | Veronica Mckenzie" . Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  11. ↑ "About Under Your Nose- why, what, when | Veronica Mckenzie" . Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  12. ↑ Albany Deptford (2023-02-07). Under Your Nose Trailer . Retrieved 2024-10-06– via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "About Us". Haringey Vanguard. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  14. ↑ "Oral Histories". Haringey Vanguard. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  15. ↑ "We Have Always Been Here Celebrating". MOCA LONDON. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
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